What is 'military'?
How did you end up in Okinawa and become a prisoner of war?
In Okinawa, in the midst of the Pacific War, digging tunnels for positions, building airfields, transporting wounded soldiers, and cleaning up excrement.

A military man who did all kinds of odd jobs in the unit.

Among them was a fourteen-year-old boy.

War puts people in dire situations.
It goes without saying that this is especially true for peoples under colonial rule.
Tae-oh, who was unable to advance to middle school due to his family's difficult financial situation, dreamed of finding a good job and starting a new life.
You are suddenly kidnapped and thrown into the middle of a battlefield, regardless of your will or situation.
It allows us to witness how the Japanese military, suffering from a shortage of manpower and supplies in the final stages of the war, forcibly conscripted people, and how a young boy who was conscripted was able to survive without losing hope in the dire circumstances and extreme reality.
The cruel history of war and conscription, depicted by the author in the image of a young boy in a photograph displayed at the Okinawa Naval Command, cannot be forgotten.

My neighbor, Gilsu, is the eldest grandson in the third generation and has just entered teachers' college.
Because the family was so precious, they were worried that if they were drafted, the family line would be cut off, so they got married just two weeks ago.
Tae-oh thought that it would be a funeral rather than a celebration since he had to go to the military before he could even have a child.

--- p.31

Emily hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“I did some research, and it seems like Manbok was taken to Okinawa, Japan.”
“Huh? Okinawa?”
Tae-oh was dazed as if he had been hit hard on the head.
My heart was pounding and my legs felt weak.

“That’s ridiculous.
Manbok is a middle school student, isn't he? He's only been in school for a short time.
“Is Okinawa far from Busan?”
“Then, it’s the southernmost island in Japan.”
Emily said that soon American troops would land in Okinawa and fight the Japanese.

--- p.45

A Japanese police officer and a police officer got out of the truck and immediately asked Tae-oh.
“Are you a kid from this neighborhood?”
“Yes, I live in the third house above the well.”
“That’s a good thing.
“Get in the truck.”
Tae-oh felt eerie.
I remembered the saying that they were taking people indiscriminately to fill the assigned number of people.
I had to get out somehow.
“No.
I work at Busan Customs.
“I stopped by the house because it was the weekend.”
“I am being drafted into the construction of Daegu Airport.
A week will do.
“The daily wage is also generous.”
The secretary spoke soothingly, but his eyes seemed to be hiding something.
Tae-oh had to find an excuse to escape somehow.
"all right.
Even if you go, at least go home and say hello to your mom… … .”
Tae-oh suppressed his trembling heart and answered.
Before they could even finish speaking, the two men lifted Tae-oh up and forced him into the back of the truck.
The bundle was scattered on the ground.
“No! I said no!”
Tae-oh pushed the door open to go out.
I banged and banged, but it was no use.

--- pp.50-51

The military followed Commander Ozaki into the mountains.
There were rugged, high mountains connected by a series of trees.

The director shouted as he handed out a pickaxe and a shovel to each of them.
"Build a cave fort here! This is crucial for Japan's victory, so we must do our best!"
'You're digging a cave in the mountains like this?'
Tae-oh's mouth fell open.
“You want me to dig a cave with just a pickaxe and a shovel?”
--- pp.78-79

“Thank you for the last time at the kiln.
“Are you from Joseon? How old are you?”
Hiyoshi stood side by side and said.
He was about the same height as Tae-oh.
“I’m fourteen now.”
“You were dragged into this crazy war just like me.
I am fifteen years old.
“I’m a middle school student from Okinawa.”
Tae-oh looked around and spoke worriedly.
“Watch what you say.
If anyone hears, I'll get in trouble again.
“I was taken away because I had no one to protect me since my country was taken away a long time ago, but why were you taken away even though you are Japanese?”
Hiyoshi said with a laugh.
“Japanese? Maybe Japanese, maybe not.”
“What do you mean?”
Tae-oh asked, blinking his eyes.
“Okinawa was originally the Ryukyu Kingdom, a beautiful maritime nation.”
Hiyoshi spoke calmly and clearly.

Okinawa was a separate country from Japan, but Japan forcibly annexed it.
And last year, Japanese mainland soldiers came to Okinawa and began preparing for war.

--- pp.115-116

The order was given.

A suicide attack team, including Lieutenant Maeda, rushed forward.
He ran straight towards the American soldiers with a bomb on his body.
It was like a moth flying blindly to a flame.

Hiyoshi also ran towards the American armored vehicle, clutching a box of gunpowder in his arms.
A young moth threw its whole body toward the fire.

--- p.134